Spaghetti and meatballs recipe

The recipe of the spaghetti and meatballs is one of the most loved in the US. Although spaghetti and meatballs is not an Italian recipe for the reasons discussed here, it can surely be considered heritage of an Italian culture (and in the South of Italy you can still find someone who makes spaghetti and meatballs but it’s certainly not a typical Italian dish). For me they’ve been a real discovery when I started traveling years and years ago and, despite the certainty, it’s not something I would cook at home, I’ve had the pleasure to make them for American friends a few time.

The recipe is really basic and the ingredients are very well linked to Italy and its flavors but of course the American touch is very tangible. What you can spot are the portions and the mix of a first and second course we Italians have rarely since for us meat is a second course and pasta is a first one.

Spaghetti and meatballs: recipe

Make the meatballs combining all the ingredients and mixing well then from the dough form quite big balls (you’ll get about 10-11 big meatballs). Put the meatballs in the fridge.

Make the sauce sautéing the onion and the garlic in olive oil. Stir in tomatoes, salt, sugar and bay leaf. Cover, reduce heat to low, and let it simmer for about 90 minutes. Add the tomato paste, basil, pepper and meatballs and let it cook for 30 minutes more.

Cook your spaghetti following the instructions on the pack, drain them serve the meatballs over spaghetti without stirring.

Preparation time: 2.5 hours

How to cook your spaghetti perfectly step by step

1. Use a large pot2. Fill the the pot with lots of water to submerge your spaghetti3. Bring the water to boil4. Add salt before adding pasta5. Once having added pasta, stir it often to avoid your pasta from clumping6. Even if the pack suggests the amount of time your pasta has to cook, just taste it a few minutes before the given time to make sure it’s really “al dente”7. Drain you pasta saving a scoop of its water in case your sauce is too tick.

Do you need more info on how to cook pasta perfectly? Click here and if you’re wondering which dishes are not Italian at all despite the common beliefs just have a look at this article and the following video:

Ina Gartner is one of the many people who consider spaghetti and meatballs a serious thing so check her recipe if you want to have a proper US experience.